I don't know if I've ever had more fun making a video than I did on this one. Other than bar mitzvahs, I hadn't been to temple since I was seven. At my previous temple visit, the rabbi, whom folks back in Greenwich, Conn. called the “Hollywood Rabbi” because he was the father of Weekend at Bernie’s star Jonathan Silverman, prodded all the kids to get onstage and tell Jewish jokes.

The Great Brisket Bake-Off at Temple Sinai in South Burlington was just as much fun, without any of the embarrassment or potential for blasphemy. All of the braised beef, kugel and salads that I tried were delicious, but even that wasn't enough for me. I headed to the store to buy a brisket to make myself the very next day. My videographer, Elizabeth Rossano, says that while editing this video, every meal she prepared was influenced by the dishes onscreen.

Enjoy the video, but be warned, you'll be frying up latkes before you know it!